Lehrmann rape trial being dropped means the case will be ‘unresolved forever’

The Australian’s Legal Affairs Contributor Chris Merritt says the case of Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins being dropped means it will be “unresolved forever”.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold on Friday announced it was “no longer in the public interest” to pursue a prosecution after medical evidence revealed a retrial could affect Ms Higgins’ mental health.

“We will never know exactly what happened, we will never know whether Bruce Lehrmann is guilty or whether he’s faced unjustified accusations – that’s outrageous enough,” Mr Merritt told Sky News Australia.

Mr Merritt said he finds Mr Drumgold’s statement that he still believes there’s a “reasonable prospect of success in a prosecution” to be “strange”.

“If that’s the case, what are we doing having a fellow walking around the streets with the ACT justice system incapable of bringing him to trial?” he said.

“Lehrmann is entitled to a presumption of innocence until he’s convicted properly in a court.”